Chapter 34

Peggy pulled the paper from her typewriter with such vigour the page tore in half. ‘Damn it,' she grumbled, crumpling it up, before realising she would need to keep it to copy if she didn't want to start the translation from scratch.

She was halfway through retyping it, when there was a single knock on her office door and a German officer walked in. He locked eyes with her and didn't move for a few seconds. Unsure why he was acting so oddly, Peggy tore her eyes from his gaze and straightened the pile of papers on her desk.

He still didn't speak and, not seeing anything in his hands, she forced herself to address him. ‘Is there something you wanted?'

‘Ich, er, I must fetch a document.'

She frowned, trying to work out which one. Most of the Germans she came in contact with seemed confident but this one didn't and was acting strangely.

‘Do you know which document?'

He considered her question before shaking his head.

Why on earth was he acting so oddly? ‘Is something the matter?'

‘The matter?'

‘Wrong. Is something wrong?'

He frowned then shook his head.

Realising she should speak German to him, Peggy asked what he wanted from her in his own language. Finally understanding her, he mentioned the Order about the deportations. The tone and look of sadness on his face led her to assume he was upset about what the islanders were soon to discover. Aware he might have been sent to test her level of secrecy and whether she would be vocal about her feelings, she decided to hurry up and get rid of him. Quickly looking through her work, she gathered several completed transcripts and put them into an envelope.

‘These need to be taken today, so maybe one of them is what you're looking for.' She held out the envelope, waiting for him to take it, feeling more uncomfortable as the seconds passed and he didn't move.

She heard footsteps outside her office door, and a knock she recognised. ‘Come in,' she called, delighted that Tony had chosen that moment to visit her.

He walked in, noticed the officer and stepped back out of the doorway. ‘I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were busy.' He looked from her to the officer, who was now staring intently at Tony, eyes narrowed. He was clearly interested in who Tony was, and not wishing him to stay any longer than was necessary, Peggy decided to introduce them. ‘Captain – er, I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.'

Without taking his eyes from Tony, he said, ‘Captain Heinrich Engel.'

‘Captain Engel, this is Advocate Le Gresley. His father is the senior partner at this firm.'

The captain clicked his heels together and gave a curt nod but seemed pleased to discover that Tony had a reason for coming to her office.

‘Would you rather I came back later?' Tony asked, sounding as if that was the last thing he hoped to hear.

‘No,' she said forcing a smile. ‘The captain has what he came for.' Turning to the officer, she added, ‘Is that correct?'

He thought for a moment before giving a curt nod. ‘Goodbye, Miss Hamel.'

Tony waited for him to go, then closed the door. ‘Well, he was a bit odd, don't you think?'

‘Very.' She shivered. ‘I can't tell you how relieved I was when you arrived.'

He walked towards her and opened his arms. Feeling them around her as he held her calmed her slightly. ‘He gave me the strangest feeling. There was something about him.'

She felt Tony tense. ‘What did he say to you?'

She thought back. ‘Nothing untoward.'

‘Did he do something?'

She sighed. ‘Nothing I can put my finger on.'

‘I'll try and keep an eye out for him,' he said. Then, after a moment's thought, he added, ‘Would you like me to wait for you after work and walk you home?'

‘But you go the other way.' She hoped he would argue with her and insist on accompanying her. She felt him kiss the top of her head.

‘When has that ever worried me? I'll wait for you if I leave first. But if you do, please wait by the front door for me. Agreed?'

‘Thank you. That makes me feel much better.' She realised he hadn't told her why he was there. ‘Did you want me for something?'

‘Only this,' he said putting his finger under her chin and gently lifting it and kissing her.

Peggy slipped her arms around his neck and gave in to Tony's kisses, forgetting all about the strange officer she hoped never to see again.

* * *

On their way to her home, Tony slowed as they neared the newsagents. ‘My father asked me to fetch an Evening Post.'

She accompanied him inside the small shop, noticing how bare the shelves were, now that there was no confectionery or British magazines. She wondered whether the deportation order she had translated might be in the local newspaper and decided to buy one to take home to her mother in case it was.

They paid for their papers and went outside. Both stared at the headline.

‘There it is,' Tony said as Peggy gazed at the upsetting words. ‘Some of the people being made to leave have probably lived here for decades,' he said, his voice solemn. ‘Their children will have been born here.'

‘And their grandchildren, in some cases,' Peggy said miserably.

She felt his hand take hers. ‘Stop that.'

‘What?'

‘Blaming yourself.'

‘I can't help it.' She began walking, embarrassed in case anyone coming out of the shop might hear them.

Tony caught up with her and took her by the wrist, slowing her. ‘Peggy, all you've done is translate the words, nothing more.'

He was right, but she still found it difficult to come to terms with having any part in it.

‘You need to warn your friend Helen about this, too.'

Peggy realised she hadn't told him about Helen's visit the previous morning and what had happened since then. ‘I already have,' she said taking his hand and walking on again. ‘In fact, there's something I should probably tell you.'